Two large Indian companies in the sphere of energy and metalworking are interested in investing in Macedonia. Their managements at meetings with the country’s government delegation in Kolkata and Chennai said Macedonia was offering favourable opportunities for running a business.

OPG Power Group – a company focused on developing and operating power plants in India – is interested in building large thermal power station in Macedonia.

“We are interested in constructing thermal stations and solar plants in Macedonia. Our company is deeply committed to this business in India. The government is doing the best it can. The atmosphere that is being created by the government, by allowing business in Macedonia to be opened very easily and by helping entrepreneurs to develop their business initiatives; these are very positive steps, especially the introduction of a low tax regime. I’m convinced that these measures could encourage many others to run a business and locate their capacities in Macedonia”, said the Managing Director of OPG Power Group, Arvind Gupta.

Its Chief Financial Officer V. Narayan Swami said Macedonia was an attractive destination for investing.

“The PM’s engagement and personal involvement in attracting investments in Macedonia is quite evident and the sincerity of the entire team is also remarkable. I think Macedonia is extremely attractive for investments due to its accessibility to the European market, customs exemptions and logistics and also due to the fact that production costs are low and that the government has open and friendly relations towards the industry,” Swami stressed.

At the meeting, PM Gruevski said the country offered the most favourable tax package and free economic zones as well as access to a market of 650 million consumers in Europe.

“We’ve held a meeting with a large company estimated at more than one billion euros, which is generating electricity through coal. They have shown interest to invest in Macedonia and initial negotiations have been launched,” Premier Gruevski stated.

The second company mulling over the possibility of opening a business in Macedonia is BRG Group in Kolkata. The company, which manufactures steel kitchen products for households, has 15,000 employees in production capacities in all around the world. Its capital is estimated at 980 million dollars.

“We are seriously considering opening several production plants in Macedonia. For this purpose negotiations are under way to realize a brownfield investment in Macedonia. Negotiations are expected to be completed in the coming few months. With respect to other plans, we plan on investing in other plants in Macedonia with active support and assistance from the government,” the company’s CEO Sanjay Bhandari said.

According to him, Macedonia’s location needed to be used as a gateway towards markets in the Balkans and Europe.

“As a result of the free trade agreements with the countries in Europe, solid business logic is being created to produce in Macedonia and to produce for different countries in Europe,” noted Bhandari.

PM Gruevski announced that negotiations with the company would be resumed in the coming period.

“We’ve met with a company that manufactures steel kitchenware and we’ve discussed ways for investing in Macedonia and for opening a production capacity for the European market. More meetings and talks are set to follow in a bid to discuss more details,” said Gruevski.

The Macedonian government delegation, led by PM Gruevski, has already held business forums in several Indian cities to present the country’s benefits offered to foreign investors.

Earlier in the day, the government delegation also visited the Mother Teresa Memorial House in Kolkata and the orphanage owned by the Mother TeresaCenter.